Dispenser



' Nov. 14, 1944. E. M. LAUER 2,362,835

DISPENSER Filed Feb. 19, 1941 ATTORNES.

Nov. 14, 1944. E. M. LAUER 2,362,835

DISPENSER Filed Feb. 19, 1941 INVENTOR E LMA M. LA UER IH WW ATTORNEYS in Figure 7;

Patented Nov. 14, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I I I I Z aGwss I .I I I DISPENSER Elma M. Lauer, New York, N. Y. Application February 19, 1941, Serial No. 379,604

- 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a dispenser for storing and dispensing pills, tablets, capsulesand the like, one at a time, and has for its object the provision of a dispenser which is simpleand cheap to manufacture, that can be readily carried in the pocket or in a ladys pocketbook.

Another object is to provide a dispenser of the class described in which the contents is prevented from shaking about in the dispenser when same is only partially filled.

Another object is to provide a dispenser in which each pill, tablet or capsule is received into and discharged from an individualchamlber.

.A further object is to provide a dispenser of the class described that can be used as a merchandising package, instead of the usual box'or bottle.

Further objects and advantages will appear from the followingspecification, whereby by way of illustration are shown three embodiments of.

the device; 'It .will be understood,;however, that these embodiments are merely illustrative ofthe invention and that the details'of construction herein shown can be, varied vwithin wide limits without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view on'the line l-l ofFigure 2;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view'onthe line 2-2 of Figure'l;

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view of the cas ings on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is. a View similar to Figure 1, except with the casing partly opened;

Figure 5 is.a side elevationalview'of'the de: vice shown in the preceding figures; I

Figure 6 is a sectional View on the line 6--6, of Figure 7, showing another form of construction;

Figure '7 is a sectional view on the line 1-1 of Figure 6;.

Figure 8 is a bottom view of the device shown Figure 9 is a vertical plan view of another form of device; I

Figure 10 is asectional view of the device, Figure 9, on the line lu' |n and Figure 11 is'a sectional view on the line ll-I I of Figure 10. I Referring to Figure 1, the numerals l2 and i3 denote cooperating elongated members forming a casing. These members are freely slidable upon each other and may be held in cooperative relationship in any suitable manner such as that shown in Figure 2 wherein the member l3 has its to receive the inturned edges l6 of member 12,

' which is therefore freely slidable longitudinally 5 therealong. I l

To prevent the member l3 from being completely withdrawn from I2the' longitudinal edge I5 of member I3 is notched to provide a tongue H which is sprung inwardly to engage a notch 10 i8 cut at the proper place in the inturnededge l6 of member l2. As that is. moved to the right, Fig. l-the tongue I! will ride along within the groove formed by the edges l4, l5, until it encounters the notch 15 I8, whereupon the tongue will spring inwardlyto the position shown in Figure 3, preventing fur ther withdrawal of the'member l3. I

The member l2 has a cap 19 secured thereto in any suitable manner, this cap being oval to 20 abut the adjacent end of the member I3. I

The member l 3 has a cap 20 secured thereto in any suitable manner, this cap also being oval to extend over the adjacent end ,of the member I2.

Extending transverselyof the device and preferably formed integral with the member 12 is a I tongue 2| adapted to lie across the pathof travel of a spring separator 22 to retain said spring in present-;

the device and to act in a mannerto be ly described. i

The spring '22 merely lies within the casing and is not secured thereto. It is of rectangular crossshown in Figures 1 and 4 to provide the space 23,adapted .to receive pills, tablets, capsules, or other small articles to be dispensed.

When the device is in closed position, as shown in Figure 1, the spring is so formed thatv it will I be lightly compressed so as to =ho1d the contents of the spaces 2'3-f0r example, the aspirin-tablets 40 shown in Figures 1 and 4---so they will not shake about.

When the device is opened by pulling lightly upon the heads or caps I9, 20, the spring 22 can expand until the part thereof designated by the numeral 25 comes in contact with the tongue 2!. This relieves the tablets 24 from pressure and; as the members l2, l3, forming the'casing are withdrawn from each other, the tablets 24-may drop out of the. device, as shown in Figure 5.

I To load the device when it is empty, the casings being withdrawn from each other to the extent permitted by the tongue H, a fresh supply of tablets are dropped in the spaces 23, and the members l2, l3, are pushed together to close the device in a manner that will be obvious. Enough or groove adapted- 13 is withdrawn from l2-- section as shown in Figure 2, andj'is formed as.

frictional resistance is provided by the U-shaped channel and the cooperating edges l4, l5, 16, of the members 12, I3, together with the tongue H, to hold them in closed position against the slight tension of spring 22, or in any other position in which they may be placed.

Referring to Figures 6 to 8, inclusive, which show another form of the device, the numeral 26 denotes a body member having a plurality of notches 21 adapted to receive pills 24*. Overlying the open sides of these notches are the annular members 28, 29, the inner annular edges of which extend inwardly as shown slightly below the bottom of the notches.

The members 28 and 29 are clamped by the outer ring 30 of thin metal or other suitable ma-' terial against the body 26. The ring 30 is so applied to the body 26 that it, together with the annular members 28 and 29 may be moved about the circumference of the body in frictional engagement therewith.

The ring 30 has a suitable aperture 3| therein large enough to permit the passage of one of the pills 24" therethrough; and, by holding the body 26 and turning the ring 30, the aperture 3| may be brought opposite any one of the notches 21, and the pills 2 3 therein will drop out, as shown in Figures 6 and 7. A depression 32 is formed in the ring 30 opposite the aperture 3|.

To load the device of Figure 6, it is only necessary to drop the pills 24 into the empty notches 21 as the ring 30 is turned to permit this to be done.

By stopping the depression 32 in one of the notches 21, as shown in Figure '7, the ring is held against accidental rotation.

The modification shown in Figures 9 to 11, inclusive, shows a formof the device that may be used as a container and thrown away after the contents are used. Of course, it can be retained and reloaded if desired.

Referring to Figure 9, the body 33 may be made of wood or other cheap material and is provided with a plurality of pockets as shown at 34, each adapted to receive a pill, tablet, capsule 35, or

the like. Oppositely spaced grooves 35, 31, extend longitudinally of the body, which, after being loaded, has wrapped about it the outer cover 38 of paper, Cellophane or the like, which is coated on the inside with a suitable adhesive which permits it to be spirally stripped on" the body along the line 39. If the cover is applied as a strip, it is wound spirally about the body; if it is applied in one piece, it may be perforated along the line 39.

The body 33 being loaded with capsules, for example, and the cover 38 being applied thereto,.

starting at one end of the body the cover is stripped off to expose one capsule, the pockets being arranged to permit this to be accomplished.

A single capsule being exposed, the cover pulled off, as shown at 40, is cut off by pressing the thumb-nail along same at 4| where it overlies one of the grooves 36--3'|. Thus the remaining capsules are held in place by the remainder of the cover in place on the body.

The manner of reloading the device is obvious.

Obviously, the spaces 23, notches 21 and pockets 34 may be of any suitable size and conformation to take any desired object such as a pill, tablet, capsule, piece of candy or the like; such modifications are obvious. Also, the cover 38 of the device, Figures 9 to 11, inclusive, can be a plain cardboard or metal tube, slidable over the body 33, to permit, as it is withdrawn, the removal of a single capsule.

It will be observed that any of the embodiments of the invention shown permit of the individual storage of the pills, tablets or the like, as well as the individual removal thereof, and that each pill is held in its separate container or space, which prevents the pills from being damaged by rubbing against each other as often happens when they are contained in a partially filled box or throttle.

Also, by placing a number or other marking opposite each pocket, such as the spaces 23 or notches 21, the number of pills taken from and remaining in the device can be instantly ascertained.

It will be understood that the words pills," tablets and capsules are used interchangeably herein and that all or any one of them also denotes any other small article such as chewing gum pellets, candy or any other small article it is desired to dispense, one at a time, from a device of this character that is small and can be easily carried in the pocket or a handbag.

What is claimed is: l. A dispenser comprising a cylindrical body having a plurality of pockets formed therein,

each of said pockets forming a cylindrical chamber extending inwardly from the surface of said body, and a strip of material forming a seal for all said pockets wound about said body and surrounding the same along the major axis thereof and adapted to be removed therefrom to successively uncover said pockets therein.

2. A dispenser comprising a cylindrical body having a plurality of pockets formed therein extending transversely of said body inwardly from the surface thereof,.and each of said pockets forming a chamber of substantially greater length than diameter, and a strip of material forming a seal for all said pockets wound about said body and surrounding the same along the major axis thereof and adapted to be removed therefrom to successively uncover said pockets therein.

ELMA M. LAUER. 

